The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1887-05-13
IN, CECIL COUNTY. Md. FRIDAY, MAY l3 1887.

soonest Herford oxen we have ever had
the pleasure of seeing. Their thin
nscks, small white heads, square backs
and round barrel bodies present pic
ture of rare oxen beauty.
The general complaint of the wheat
this season is its stinted growth and
the thinness of the plants. Mr.. Mes
bitt has two fields which measure
up to the required standard, and in
some parts lap over little, already
showing signs of lodging.
The Club having assembled, and
criticisms called for, Mr.. Timothy
Haines, thought that the host was sew
eral years behind the times in his mode
of planting corn. He perceived that
the ground for the future crop was be,
ing checked in the old fashioned way
for dropping by hand and covering with
the hoe, in place Of using the drill.
Mr.. Nesbitt defended his practice was
a greater benefit to the corn by being
able to cultivate it both ways, contend
ing that two workings, when one was
across the other, was worth more than
half dozen all one way. The "wood
pile" came in for considerable share of
attention, and we noticed in running
fire on this point that the ladies took
more than an Incidental interest in this
humble appendage to the domestic ap-
pointments of the farm, and were in
cliued to place bountiful pile of dry
wood very high up in the scale of do
mestic economy, or rather farm econ
omy. In fact dry wood pile and a
bountiful wood pils-but especially a
dry one-had much to do in forming
the temperament and tone of the wife.
The ladies evidently took more delight
in we'll stocked wood shed than in
jumbo oxen or fat pigs
The host was called on for his essay,
but we discovered that be had learned
the trick Of the Cecil Farmers Club,
and produced copy of a newspaper
with an article entitled Chow Farmers
can Control the Product of their Labor" "
A note from Mr.. H. H. Haines re-
GREETING his inability to meet the Club,
enclosing copy of the proceeding of
the last meeting of the Cecil Farmers
Club which was read and received fav.
orable comment.
Several selected articles were read by
members, among which two humorous
poems by VIM. King-"Farmer Steb-
bings on Roller Skates" and the same
individual at the Toboggau slide.
LARGE GAINS IN FEEDING CATTLE.
The following gains in feeding cattle
were reported. The Swift Brothers had
fed 10 steers which made an average
gain in 9 months of 586 pounds per
head. One of the lot had gained $50
pounds in Sc days. Timothy Haines
had fed lot of 10 steers which aver
aged 4O5 pounds per head in 81
months feeding.
THE CLUB CRITICISED.
An absent member furnished an
essay which was intended only for a
gentle repremand ofthe Club in some of
its short comings, and not to be in.
corporated in the minutes or given to
the public. Tho essay contained in,
formation and admonitions which would
prove of general interest if published,
and we solicited the privilege and were
allowed to make synopsis of the parts
of general interest. Too little attention
is paid to what is allowed to be publish.
ed as the expressions and opinions of
the Club, and some of those published
reports have been damaging to the rep.
utation of the Club. The following
instances are cited as cases in point.
About two years ago the question was
asked how much salt should be used in
preparing bushel of lime for white
wash, but no member was ready with a
definite answer. One suggested that
we might be using salt in whitewash
because others had used it, when in
fact it might be of no use at all. An
other member had heard a brother
member assert that salt would destroy
mortar. When the report of the pro
ceedings of the Club appeared, it stated
as the expression and opinion of the
Club that salt would destroy mortar
and was of no benefit in whitewash.
Thus setting up our opinion against
the world that salt was of no benefit in
whitewash. This was the fault of theClub
in neglecting to verify the minutes be.
fore pub lished, or to take the trouble
to have the erroneous statement after.
wards corrected. The writer, however,
determined to make an experiment
with the salt in mortar for his own
Having some chimneys
that needed plastering, to prevent the
rain from getting down between the
bricks and slate roof, on which lime
mortar had at different times been used
without success, common lime mortar
cracking more or less in drying. A
brine was prepared by dissolving salt in
watei-all that the water would hold
in solution, and shaking the lime with
the brine. Equal parts of sand and coal
ashes were added to the lime sufficient